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In this Nov. 28, 2017, file photo, Republican David Yancey and Democrat Shelly Simonds attend a "take your legislator to school day" at Heritage High School in Newport News, Va. Simonds, the Democrat in a tied race for a Virginia House seat that could affect which party controls the chamber says she'll ask a court to declare the tie invalid. Simonds' lawyers said Tuesday, Dec. 26, that they'll ask the court to reconsider its ruling after last week's recount.

The Democrat in a tied race for a Virginia House seat that could affect which party controls the chamber said she'll ask a court to declare the tie invalid and name her as the winner.

Shelly Simonds and her lawyers said the court failed to follow state election law by allowing a ballot to be counted a day after last week's recount, among other errors. The campaign said it will ask the same court to reconsider its decision.

In the meantime, state election officials said they postponed their plan to break the tie Wednesday in Richmond by drawing names from a bowl.

James Alcorn, chairman of Virginia's State Board of Elections, said in a series of tweets that name drawing "is an action of last resort."

Parkland Shooting Survivor Calls 'BS' on Politicians' Gun Stance

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Sophomore Emma Gonzales had a message for president Donald Trump and for other politicians on their failure to enact sensible gun laws: "BS." Gonzales was one of several survivors to speak at a rally held outside the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to speak out against the gun lobby.

(Published 46 minutes ago)

"(N)eutral election administrators should not be choosing election winners or influencing the next Speaker of the House," he wrote.

The race between Simonds and Republican Del. David Yancey is for the 94th House of Delegates District in Newport News. If Simonds were declared the winner, it would split party control of Virginia's House 50-50.

A rare power-sharing agreement would have to be brokered between Democrats and Republicans. If no agreement can be reached, prolonged chaos could ensue.

Yancey's attorneys told the court that a Republican election official was "confused" about election guidelines. The official had let the vote remain uncounted before raising concerns the next day.

The court allowed Yancey's attorneys to challenge the ballot.

On the ballot in question, the voter had picked Republican candidates in statewide races. For the 94th District, the voter filled in the bubble for Yancey and the bubble for Simonds. But he or she also drew a single slash through the bubble for Simonds.

Yancey's attorneys argued that the ballot was clearly a vote for Yancey. Simonds' attorneys disagreed.

The court ultimately counted the vote for Yancey, which brought the tally to 11,608 votes each.

Gretchen Heal, a spokeswoman for the Yancey campaign, declined to comment Tuesday on the Simonds campaign's planned litigation. But Heal said Yancey stands by the arguments made last week by his attorneys.

Russians Indicted for Alleged Election Meddling Conspiracy

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announces indictments against 13 Russians and three Russian entities accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

(Published Friday, Feb. 16, 2018)

Whoever wins the 94th District race, the fight over control of the House may not end there. A lawsuit is pending over the results of a hotly contested race in the 28th District in the Fredericksburg area.

Democrat Joshua Cole lost to Republican Bob Thomas by 82 votes in November and by 73 votes in a recount last week. But voters filed a lawsuit in federal court after at least 147 ballots were found to be assigned to the wrong districts.